Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

Will Diversions Introduce Nutrients That Harm Wetland Vegetation?

Aerial picture of the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion outfall canal (on the right) and the delta built by the diversion in Big Mar Pond. The photo was taken on July 17, 2014. Note the lush, green vegetation on the newly built delta includes wetland grasses and black willow trees. All of these plants colonized on their own, once the diversion built the land.

Within the scientific community, and among the general public, there is controversy over the effects that nutrients, introduced through sediment diversions, will have on wetland vegetation. The speculation is that increased nutrients, especially nitrate, will result in decreased root growth.

With increased nutrient availability, plant roots will no longer have to “search” for nutrients, resulting in decreased growth. This results in fewer roots to hold and trap soil and organic matter, creating weaker wetlands.

In addition, the increase in nutrients could benefit the bacteria that decompose organic matter, decreasing organic matter storage in marshes; and, therefore, decreasing elevation and soil strength. Alternately, increased nutrients could also result in increased root, shoot and leaf growth. This increases organic matter (dead or decaying plant material) added to the marsh as plants die or go into winter senescence. […]

More about plants and plant roots:

Plant roots go to extreme lengths to find water

3 Surprising Ways Water Depends on Healthy Forests

Study reveals plants ‘listen’ to find sources of water

Recent Posts

LA River restoration connects us back to ‘the life force of our city’

Los Angeles residents at a section of the Los Angeles River cleanup in Los Angeles,…

2 days ago

LAist: New study raises questions about heavy metals in fire retardants

Over the past decade, about 67 million gallons of fire retardant have been dropped on…

2 days ago

Meadow and watershed restoration in the Golden Trout Wilderness

Photo: Golden Trout Wilderness Seeking blue, seeing gold The Kern Plateau features a chain of…

3 days ago

First sighting of salmon in 100 years marks key milestone for California dam removal

For the first time in more than a century, a salmon was observed swimming through Klamath…

1 week ago

Developing state water roadmaps is essential

New turnout facility from the California Aqueduct on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. Officials say the…

2 weeks ago

Migration Matters: Breaking Down Barriers to Migration

Over the past century, humans have constructed major transportation infrastructure like highways, bridges, railroads, and…

3 weeks ago